Lives in Cricket No 30 - MJK Smith

78 ‘If you can stand up, you’re playing’ with vociferous appealing. Even then, an eleventh man had still to be found. At the age of almost 45 David Clark, the tour manager, was a possibility, but a first-class average below 16 made clear that he had been nowhere near Test class, while his most recent game had been in the fathers’ match at the Dragon School at Oxford the previous summer. The favoured option, though his name escaped mention in The Times’ preview of prospects, was Henry Blofeld, who was covering the tour as a freelance journalist. He had one first-class century to his name, for Cambridge University against MCC, and had played for Norfolk as recently as 1961. Blofeld was decreed the better option, but from his sickbed came a protest from Stewart: ‘Even if I’m only quarter fit, I’ve got to be better than him.’ So the vice-captain played. Blofeld, or even Clark, would have served England better. A day in the field ended with Stewart, having been sick on the pitch, diagnosed with dysentery and unable to take any further part in the tour. India, at one point 99 for six, would have lost a seventh wicket soon after had Binks not fluffed a chance to stump Chandu Borde off Titmus, but they ended the day on 225 without further loss. The reprieved Borde added 153 for the seventh wicket with Salim Durani, and India were bowled out for 300. England’s two surviving specialist batsmen, Mike and Bolus, opened with a stand of 42. ‘Then I think I ran out Jim Parks,’ says Mike. This was no day for such extravagances. Mike made a well-composed 46, but he, Knight and Binks were all out as England closed on 144 for six. Next day Titmus dug in for an undefeated 84, his best score in Tests, while Price, with 32 in 145 minutes, passed his previous best in first-class cricket and Jones batted 83 minutes for five, adding 48 with Titmus. Though leading by 67 on first innings, India were starting to fall behind the clock if they were to win, and England’s spinners now put a stranglehold on their batsmen, Titmus and Wilson bowling 79 overs for 120 runs. The declaration, some hours later than Pataudi would have wished, set England 317 to win. Bolus opened with Binks and England closed on 17 for no wicket. Next day they took their stand to 125, but the acceleration that might have come from a team with a full complement of fit batsmen never materialised. Only three wickets fell, Mike ended on 31 not out and England, against all the odds, had emerged with an honourable draw. ‘Had India won either of the first two matches, I don’t think there would have been any way back into the series,’ Mike now feels.